‘I would like you and Charles and Jack to receive a proper education,’ Oliver said, joining him and holding up Jack so he got an excellent view of the people milling about below. ‘And I’ll ensure Hannah and Naomi make good marriages.’

‘Thank you… Uncle. After that I want to travel,’ Bartholomew went on, his voice low, ‘all round the world. But what about the time when Mother has gone, what about little Cordelia? Could she, and the boys, when they’re not at school, come and live with you? I’d like to keep this house open as a base for us all to return to, somewhere to come back to and remember Mother.’

‘It will all be done, Bartholomew,’ Oliver answered, falling into Bartholomew’s quiet, serious mood.

‘But what will your children think about us?’ Charles asked, adding himself to the male gathering and standing importantly with his hands clasped behind him. ‘Will Masters Kane and Luke and Miss Olivia want to have anything to do with us? We might have come into money and live in a big house but most of the gentry folk still think we’re beneath them and make no bones about it.’

‘My children will accept you as their equals, have no worries on that score, Charles, and my servants will treat you as Pengarrons too,’ or I shall have something to say about it! Oliver thought privately. ‘As for the gentry, you will find some will always spurn you, but they are of no consequence. The others will fall over themselves to have society with you. I will make each of your brothers and sisters, and you, a person of position and high standing.’

‘Sounds some exciting,’ Charles said, puffing out his chest.

Bartholomew’s was already well puffed out. ‘You can say that again, brother.’

Kerensa sat and watched the roomful of happy, excited faces. Oliver and his new male kin were conversing like equals already. Naomi and Hannah laughed and chattered about the new social life they were going to be able to take part in. Cordelia, too, had caught some of the new vitality pulsing in the room but she was content to sit on Kerensa’s lap and receive a long cuddle.

‘I was going to ask if all is well with you, my dear,’ Jenifer said to her in her weak voice, smiling more than she had since Samuel had died, ‘but I can see your contentment, it’s clearly written all over your lovely face.’

‘I don’t care how silly or sentimental it sounds, Jenifer,’ Kerensa smiled from deep within and gazed at the tall dark man talking to Jenifer’s sons, ‘but you could say my paradise has come home.’

Jenifer followed her gaze. ‘And if I am any judge, he’s here to stay for ever.’